JEB BUSH FIRST DAY OF CAMPAIGNING HIGHLIGHTED BY HIS ATTACKING THE POPE!!

Jeb Bush, on his first full day of campaigning since his official announcement of running, began in a very inauspicious manner. Among the people he targeted to attack weren't just his expected political opponents but also, of all people, the Pope, the head of the religion he chose to affiliate with decades ago. He had the audacity, in this case outrageous audacity, to offer advice to the Pope, that he should "steer clear" of political issues such as climate change.  He followed this up by implying that climate change can be thought of like an economic issue, saying he would not go to his bishop, cardinal, or Pope for advice on an economic issue, therefore the Pope should leave those areas to the politicians and content himself with matters of his flock's spiritual life. Very interesting, Jeb. In trying to shore up support with the hardline base of the Republican party, you take offense at the Pope believing there is something very real going on with climate change manifestations throughout the world, and that they are a potential danger to humanity and our natural environment as we know it.  And  you take it on yourself to suggest he back off from caring about such matters, as if he hasn't a right to speak out on all issues he feels are vital to humanity. You further suggest that scientists are arrogant when they believe that climate change is a real, verified phenomena.   So one might assume you also find the Pope "arrogant" in this regard. You might look in the mirror when you say "arrogant", Jeb!  Quite a beginning to your campaign. You were doing better before you opened your mouth and started talking.  You have enough money to run a great campaign, but your words may lose a lot more votes than your money can buy.

Looking a bit more deeply into Bush's advice to the Pope reveals an underlying, basic truth about his, and most other Republicans, core value system and political motivation. Whether the issue being dealt with by those in political power concerns science, health, social and human needs, trade, foreign affairs, or myriad other issues, its all about the economics. What will be the effect on the economic bottom line, the corporate profits that will filter to or from the captains of industry and finance who have assumed such massive power over our political system through the influence their money exerts?  Dealing with climate change effectively would cut into the immediate profits of multi-national corporations, so it needs to be denied and defeated, the Pope should keep quiet about it, regardless of the human suffering and environmental damage it could cause. Improved health care for all would be costly, it must be defeated, so what if some people go without and suffer. The trade bill without protections for workers and environmental regulations should be implemented, it will increase  corporate profits, forget the job displacement, environmental rule overrides, and growing income inequity it fosters.  Wars must be fought, there are valuable resources we must have access to, markets to protect, even if we are working with autocratic monarchs and against the will of a majority of the local inhabitants of the region. And on it goes.  It's all about the economics of the issue. This is a shift from the campaign slogan which won an election for Clinton in 1992, It's all about the economy.  The "economy" Clinton was referring to dealt with the financial state of all the people, not excluding the middle class and below.  Bush's "economics" refers much more to how the economy is measured by Wall Street and the heads of our corporate and financial institutions, those in the highest ranges of  wealth and income in our nation.  Bush's first day statements are reminiscent of Mitt Romney's faux pas in his 2012 campaign, that there is a sizeable percentage of the US population that his campaign makes no pretense of trying to appeal to or represent. Bush's statement was not as blatant, but the implication of where his priorities are is clearly there.  So the Pope shouldn't talk about climate change, its an economic and political issue.  This suggest Bush might  say the same thing about poverty, homelessness, health needs, income inequity, education, environmental degradation, they are all just economic issues that the Pope should steer clear of, just leave them to politicians like him. Let's hope the voters of our nation are listening, and will steer clear of Jeb Bush.

THE PASADENA POLICE MURDER COVER UP CONTINUES

NO JUSTICE FOR KENDRICK MCDADE IN PASADENA, CA.

Thus far I've posted twice on the cover up by the Pasadena PD, the police union, the mayor and city council.  Several of us in Pasadena request rationale for not releasing what appears to be an objective report which excoriates cops for the murder of this unarmed Black youth.

Their absurd rationale is state in two previous posts.  i suppose that racial justice groups in the city will take action to protest what is beyond a stonewall.

The Pasadena cops are adept at presenting a happy, rational face to the liberal community in Pasadena but behave like storm troopers in some ghetto areas.  The Pasadena Star News doesn't do any in-depth reporting on the situation.  i suppose they are waiting for the murder of another Black youth by the cops before it hits print.  But then, of course, the reporting will be superficial.

Stay Tuned.

June 15, 2015,

POLITICAL GAME-PLAYING AND HYPOCRISY 101: OUR MIDDLE CLASS AND FOREIGN POLICY SUFFER

As our politicians gear up for another national election next year, it is open season for those seeking high office to roll out their latest sound bites, campaign slogans, and elaborate promises on how they can solve the nation's problems and get our country back on a positive track. The game playing has already begun in full, and two of the most popular areas of focus that are emerging concern the downward well-being over the last 30 years of the nation's middle class, and the sorry state during the last 15 years of our foreign policy, with special emphasis on the continuing failures of our military involvement in the Middle East.  With each of these areas of greatly needed attention and change, most major candidates have already given a glimpse of the hand they intend to play in dealing with these major challenges, and their gamesmanship seems directed towards winning votes but not really changing policy or solving problems in realistic ways.  In short, they promise much talk; little if any positive action, and our difficulties continue unabated or are made worse.

 The following paragraphs will discuss the game playing unfolding in these two areas, as they will be paramount in both of our party's presidential campaigns.  There are other equally, or even more, important issues that should be highlighted by any responsible candidate, such as climate change, despoiling of our natural environment, weakening support for public education, infrastructure needs, campaign finance reform, underemployment and mental health crises with our youth, increased domestic violence, and failures of our justice system in administering real justice.  These are issues which one or both parties will likely tend to avoid, downplay, or try to capitalize on politically without approaching in any substantive, meaningful way. One announced candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, is attempting to deal with these issues in a very earnest, probing, and change-oriented fashion. More power to him, and his endeavor to become more than a long-shot candidate or to have a major influence on whichever candidate prevails. In the meantime, others in the current political field paint a less than optimistic picture for those with basic concerns about our nation's current well-being, and desiring real political change.

Issues key to the middle class will play a prominent role in the campaign not just because it is middle class votes that typically determine the outcome of elections, as a majority of swing voters fall within that group, but also because a strong, healthy middle class is one of the defining characteristics of a vibrant, thriving, effectively-functioning nation. During post-World War 2 America, up to the 1980's, our middle class was doing well, and our nation continued to do relatively well in spite of some major governmental missteps during the late 1960's and '70's.  Since the 1980's, however, the middle class has been in decline in their economic well-being, thanks largely to Reaganomics and its supply-side, corporation and wealth-favoring policies, and has been majorly suffering since 2008 and the economic collapse following financial industry deregulation and the war and defense-spending biases of the Bush Administration. Since only Wall Street and the most wealthy have fully recovered from the economic losses incurred then, middle class issues will be focused on by both parties, Republicans blaming Obama for the lack of middle class recovery, Democrats focusing on the obstacles to real recovery which the Republican-controlled Congress have presented, with their spending priorities excluding making money available for human needs, societal enhancement, virtually anything other than defense, surveillance, and law enforcement. While Republicans will talk a lot about middle class needs, their remedies are likely to be superficial at best, rather than the substantive changes necessary, reversing some of the tax and investment changes brought on by Reaganomics and reinstituting the financial company regulations that were removed in the late 1990's.  Democrats may discuss some of the underlying causes of middle class decline, but the presumptive candidate, Hillary Clinton, is so beholden to vested financial interests herself, and with a husband who as president relaxed long-standing financial regulations and promoted foreign trade agreements which worked against middle class interests, it is difficult to see her strongly supporting middle class needs through concrete deeds that go beyond words of support. Her silence on issues now suggests she will align herself just slightly to the left of her Republican challengers on these issues, rather than become an advocate of real change, as Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Robert Reich, Paul Krugman and other clear, cogent voices pushing for real change are offering.

Foreign policy will also be a key part of the campaign, Republicans attacking Democrats for the fact that our policies in the Middle East have led to more failure in that region, with the growth of ISIS into a significant force and the lack of any cohesive strategy of how to successfully involve ourselves in any of the conflicts going on in that tormented region.  If Hillary is the candidate, she will be able to place the existing conflicts and our involvement in them into the context of the situation that Obama inherited in 2008, but the fact that she played a major role in devising the strategies that we have followed since then, and the reality that they have failed miserably to achieve their ends, will be hard to defend.  The Obama administration's claim that this strategy is in fact "winning" is a spin that defies all credibility.  Republicans will all talk about what they would do to win against ISIS militarily through increasing our use of force, and that they would be able to convince what regional allies we have in the area to join with us, provide most of the "boots on the ground" to fight the battles consistent with our agenda. Easy words to say in an election, much more difficult to accomplish in a region torn by internal conflict and leery of foreign influence and domination. Hillary may be a bit less arrogant in feeling we can force the outcome that meets our desires, and be more inclined to negotiate on strategies with allies and compromise on resolutions, but she too is likely to be militarily-oriented.  And neither party's candidate is likely to deal with the underlying, most significant issue facing our involvement, do we have either the right or the capacity to take the lead in trying to orchestrate a solution to the region's conflicts?  Some would say our vital interests, economically, diplomatically, morally, are at stake. Some would say we are responsible for creating ISIS when we destroyed Iraq through extending our war against al Qaeda into Iraq and set up a government which alienated Sunnis. Even if we were complicit in breaking the region, have we the capacity to fix it, or even the right to continue imposing ourselves into a region where western powers have for centuries acted against the better, and the self-determined interests of the local inhabitants.  These are the real questions, but not ones that are likely to be heard in any real way during the campaign. In their absence, we are likely to continue to error, to blunder, to antagonize, to expend valuable resources, human and financial, in continuing questionable and losing endeavors. The political campaign will end, one candidate will win with much fanfare, but will our nation and our society, and their subsequent endeavors, also emerge victorious?  The optimism one would like to hold is difficult to foresee.

THE BEAT GOES ON IN PASADENA PD COVERUP

The following letter is to Ms. Stone, Field Rep for Pasadena Mayor.  It simply repeats a message to the Mayor which  quotes a repeated message to the City Attorney's office.


June 2, 2015

Ms. Rhonda Stone
Field Representative
Office Of The Mayor, Pasadena CA.

This is an E-mail sent to the Mayor today. “ E-mails and ‘phone messages have been sent to City Attorney's office  There is no response.  Would like your written response Mr. Mayor.  ‘Please respond to this question  in writing via e-mail.  Your office has been ordered by a court to release the OIR (80% of the content available) related to the killing of Kendrec MCDade by Pasadena PD.  2 attorneys in your office have responded to inquiries as to why you have not done so with the rationale that, because the case is under appeal,  your office is not bound to release the OIR.  Is this the case?  Please respond in writing via e-mail.  Keith F. Shirey, Professor Emeritus Political Science Citrus College member of #Black Lives Matter, Pasadena Chapter.  We would appreciate an immediate response. Thank you.’  This is the repeated message sent to the City Attorney’s office.  So Mr. Mayor, can you, yourself, get a reponse from the City Attorney's office and send it to us via e-mail?  Thanks.”

This case isn’t going away Ms. Stone. Word has it that you have great influence over the Mayor.   We want a written response.  We’ve already heard from 2 attorneys in the City Attorney’s office and left telephone messages.  What are you folks hiding?  The very partial content of the OIR released in connection with a civil suit reveals police misconduct, negligence, and downright stupidity on the part of the two “peace officers” involved in the brutal murder of an unarmed Black teen.  Were these cops on drugs?  Are they racist sociopaths? Did they commit cold-blooded murder? We want to know.  Let’s see the whole OIR, not just the redacted version.  The 2 City of Pasadena Attorney’s response that their office won’t release the OIR damning the cops because the judge’s office is is under appeal is a non sequitor.  Pasadena is entirely free to release it?  There is a foul order about this one of numerous murders of an unarmed Black youth, a stench  worse than that of  a stinking mackerel left on the kitchen sink for two weeks. The foul vapors are rising above the whole City Of The Roses and will, eventually bring it into national ill-repute.  Please give a heads up to the Pasadena Mayor Thank you for your attention

Sincerely,

Keith Shirey
Black Lives Matter, Pasadena

CITY OF PASADENA INVOLVED IN POLICE MURDER COVER UP

JUNE 1, 2015

As reported in my last post:

“Two Pasadena police officers, Matthew Griffen and Jeffery Newlen, who shot and killed an unarmed teenager three years ago were not disciplined for the shooting and made tactical errors during the incident, according to a court document. 

According to part of the an Office Of independent Review (OIR) According to excerpts of the report quoted in a March 16, 2014 court filing, the officers “repeatedly made tactical decisions that were not congruent with principles of officer safety.” 

Recently the Office of the Pasadena City Attorney has been ordered by a judge to release a (partially redacted)  OIR.  But the City of Pasadena will not release the report!  How can they defy a judge’s order?  2 city attorneys have told us (we are Black Lives Matter in Pasadena) that, because the City is appealing the judge’s decision, it is not bound to comply with his orders.  We have posed a simple question two 2 attorneys in the City Attorney’s office:  “Are you bound by the appeal not to release the OIR?”  It is a simple question designed to show their complicity with the Pasadena PD’s police union.  But they will not answer!  They're not bound by the Appeal!  What are they hiding?  What do they fear?  Where is the OIR?  Is it hidden in some dark place so that it cannot be brought into the light of truth?

I have communicated with city attorney Michelle Beal Bagneris in writing and by telephone message asking the same question.  I do not expect her to contradict the other attorney’s in her office and I don’t expect her to answer the question.  However, I’ve given her a chance and will report her answer, if she responds, on these pages.

Clearly the independent report has damning evidence that is being withheld by agents of the City of Pasadena involving the murder of an unarmed teenager by the infamous Pasadena Police officers Newlen and Griffen.

One is forced to inquire, were Newlen and/or Griffen on drugs? Are they vile racists?  Do low IQ’s impair these cops?  Were they suffering from depression and/or sleep deprivation?  Are they identifiable sociopaths?

These are legitimate questions because parts of the OIR that were released in connection with a civil suit reveal that Newlen and Griffen were confused, violated the most elementary of police procedures, and were grossly incompetent in this case of obvious murder. But, again,  what is the more damning evidence in the (partially redacted) OIR?

Why the cover up?  Why the collusion between the Pasadena City Attorney’s office and the police union?

How deep does this corruption go?  Surely the mayor and city council know the details of the tragic death of Kendrec McDade, yet another police killing of an unarmed black youth?

Is there pervasive racism in city government?  Why don’t they act in such a catastrophic, heartbreaking situation? 

NO JUSTICE FOR BLACK YOUTH KILLED BY PASADENA PD

   NO JUSTICE FOR BLACK YOUTH KILLED  BY PASADENA POLICE

10/16/14 A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Thursday that the city of Pasadena can release a redacted version of an independent report (OIR) on the officer-involved deadly shooting of 19-year-old Kendrec McDade.  No charges were filed against the officers and they are on duty. They were not  charged with involuntary manslaughter,  Thus far there is neither the redacted report nor a non-redacted report made available to the citizeny.

So where is the report?  If one searches on-line it cannot be found in the Pasadena Star News.  Their search engine doesn’t even come up with the name Kendrec McDade. The local PBS station, KPPC, has nothing.  Several of us are on the case and are demanding the version,  of which 20% is redacted,  from city hall.  Why hasn’t the City Council made this public?

Two Pasadena police officers, Matthew Griffen and Jeffery Newlen, who shot and killed an unarmed teenager three years ago were not disciplined for the shooting and made tactical errors during the incident, according to a court document. 

According to part of the an Office Of independent Review (OIR) According to excerpts of the report quoted in a March 16, 2014 court filing, the officers “repeatedly made tactical decisions that were not congruent with principles of officer safety.”  Some of these severe errors are enumerated in the (OIR) but 20% of the report is being withheld from the public. But what has been released in the OIR is not nearly as specific as in the depositions taken of the officers themselves.  

The` officers said they chased McDade in a police car, without lights and sirens, following a report of an armed robbery. At one point, Newlen exited the patrol car and began to chase McDade on foot through the dark streets in northwest Pasadena. Griffin remained in the car, and fired the first shot when he said McDade began running into the street toward him.

Newlen said he fired from the sidewalk after he saw a “muzzle flash” near the rear of the police car.

“I saw him run directly at the drivers side door of the police car. I heard a shot. I heard two shots specifically. At one point I saw a muzzle flash, I believed that my partner had just been killed and he was turning and firing at me,” Newlen said, adding that he saw McDade turning toward him in a “crouched position.”

Both officers said they did not see McDade’s hands during the altercation and never saw a weapon.

The officers also indicate a Pasadena police patrol car was wrecked when it struck a wall during the brief pursuit of McDade. Newlen said he told McDade to stop as he chased him on foot, but Griffin said he did not give any commands before firing at McDade.

An attorney asks, “Did you ever say to him, ‘Put your hands up’ before you shot him?”

Griffin’s answer was, “No.”

Later on Griffin was asked, “Did you give him any warning at all you were going to shoot?”

Griffin again answered “No.”

Griffin admits his patrol car, left in reverse, injured him and nearly ran over McDade in the seconds after the fatal shots were fired.

Both officers said the incident was the first time they had been involved in a shooting. The officers were legally cleared in the shooting by the District Attorney’s Office and an internal policy review. Both have returned to patrol duty.

One wonders if the 20% of the OIR, which the judge allowed to be redacted  relates to these damning statements by the officers.

Pasadena citizens or those whose business or pleasure takes them to the city should demand answers from the Pasadena PD and city hall.  We need the whole report—which we don’t yet have-- not some redacted version or, at least for now, the redacted one.  Are the Pasadena Police and city hall trying to hide something?

Meanwhile we’ll try to get the redacted OIR report, which seems to be withheld from the public.  It should be public information.  Stay tuned.

GOP CONGRESS TO OPPOSE CLEAN NEEDLE EXCHANGE

Lois Lane, Clark Kent Advocate For Clean Needles

Written by Keith Shirey

   FROM THE SPOOF!

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Topics: Congress, Addiction, HIV, Idiot Politicians, heroin, War on Drugs

Sunday, 17 May 2015

WANTS CLEAN NEEDLE EXCHANGE

NEW YORK TIMES

by James Earl Jones

NEW YORK

In the past, conservatives successfully pushed Congress to prohibit federal dollars from being used to distribute sterile syringes to intravenous drug users. Now, with a severe outbreak of H.I.V. and hepatitis due to a surge in heroin use in states including Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia, the issue has returned with liberal House members calling for needle exchange programs.

With the pressure for congress to provide funds for sterile needle distribution, there is push back from conservative Christians and right wing Republicans who have established a new foundation called "Americans Against Harm Reduction."

The Reverend Mike Chickadee, spokesman for the group, stated today at a news conference, "Moral relativist, social nihilist, sick lifestyle activists are condoning sin when they advocate needle exchanges. In doing so they are supporting shooting up narcotics, but they call it "harm reduction."

Lois Lane, nationally known anti drug war and needle exchange advocate somehow was not screened out of the press conference and boomed out, in a deafening contralto voice that shook the room, "How is preventing the spread of a disease promoting the spread of disease you idiot?"

When two burly men sporting large lapel crosses attempted to remove Ms. Lane from the room, she more than successfully resisted (she seems to be an expert in some form of martial art employing high heels).

"Answer the question you fathead Bible Thumper," Lane thundered. "Too, tell me why the Surgeon General says that needle exchanges induce addicts to enter treatment programs."

At this point co-founder of "Americans Against Harm Reduction," Rep. Harold Rogers (R. KY) and chair of the House Appropriations Committee seized the microphone and sneered at Lane, "Drug use is criminal activity. Instead of passing out needles to addicts they should be arrested. So should you, lady, for advocating and abetting criminal behavior."

In response, Lois Lane and her partner Clark Kent pushed their way to the stage with their friend Mary Marvel, M.D. in tow. Dr. Marvel explained that," Addiction comes about through distortions of cognitive and emotional functioning that characterize addicts, particularly the compulsion to use drugs."

"This is the essence of addiction. Addiction is a brain disease. It cannot be treated by the police or politicians; it must be dealt with by the medical community," stated the muscular physician.

But the GOP controlled congress, whose power base in located in the conservative Christian right is highly unlikely to appropriate funds for needle exchange programs for states overwhelmed by heroin abuse and the cascading health crisis.

Make Keith Shirey's day - give this story five thumbs-up (there's no need to register, the thumbs are just down there!)

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